What are the health effects of television viewing? Specifically, does watching too much television affect teens and young people adversely? The question has been researched and debated endlessly in medical journals, on school campuses and in living rooms nationwide. Surprisingly, all of that research and discussion seems to have produced a mixed verdict on the health effects of television. Some studies have suggested a link between excessive television viewing and increased aggression, behavioral problems and premature youth sexuality. Other research, meanwhile, has concluded that no negative correlation exists between TV viewing and youth behavior. The latest study to focus on the question finds some cause for concern...

According to a study published in a recent issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, premature youth sexuality may be among the negative health effects of television. The study, conducted by University of Wisconsin researchers, used data from surveys of nearly 5,000 teens nationwide to investigate the relationship between the effects of television viewing and the development of youth sexuality. The findings led researchers to conclude that excessive TV viewing during the early teen years may be a warning sign for parents.

Youth Sexuality and the Negative Health Effects of Television

Teens who watch more television, the study found, are at a higher risk of initiating sexual activity at earlier ages. Those teens who watched between two and five hours of television a night were approximately twice as likely to be sexually active as teens who watched less than one hour a night. Those teens who engaged in more TV viewing also appeared to be spending less time communicating with parents, indicating that the health effects of television viewing may not be the only factor affecting youth sexuality.

The current study, researchers noted, looked only at the health effects of television viewing in terms of number of hours clocked in. Some TV industry advocates have criticized such studies for failing to take into account the content of television programming to which teens are exposed.

Other studies have compared the health effects of television for teens who watch different varieties of programs, finding that those teens who are attracted to more culturally sophisticated shows may be less likely to develop unhealthy behaviors than teens who view strictly "low-brow" fare.

Researchers concluded by urging parents to remain highly involved in teens' lives, including keeping up to date on young people's television viewing habits and interests. In one of the study's more optimistic findings, researchers had noted that those teens who understood their parents disapproval of premature sexual activity were less likely to become sexually active than their peers who did not receive frank and open communication from parents.